Signaling mechanism for automobiles



SIGNLNG MECHANISL'K FOR AUTOMOBLES Filed-'June G, 192'? @neem-sheen l,

SIGNALNG MECHANISM FOR ATGMOBLES l 27 5 Shams-Sheet Filed. fum 6:

Patented Feb. 25, 1930 lApplication filed Janet,

` My invention relates to improvements in automobile signal lightoperating `mechanism.

The'primary object of the invention is to provide signal light operatingmechanism comprising manually operated means for switching on the signallights to indicate either 'a right or left turn.

A further object of the invention is to pro# vide mechanism of thischaracter comprising a manually operated lever and parts .eooperatingtherewith' for turning on the' signal lightsV in making eithera right orlelt turn, said lever andl parts vbeing preferably secured-upon theupper end of the stationary tube of the steering assembly.

rlhese objects are accomplished by the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which: I I

lligure l is a sectional view through the upper end of the steeringcolumn and associated parts, showing vthe manner et supporting themanually operated parts of the mechanism.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1, the capinclosing the mechanism being removed.

Figure 3 is a sectional View through the upper part of Fig. l, and onaline at right angles thereto. i

Figure 4 is a sectional View (enlarged) of one of the contact supportsshown in llig. 2.

liigure 5 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a slightmodication in the onstruction of the ring lever for closing the lampcircuits.

Figure 6 is a diagram of the signed light' UNITEDv srrresv PATE Hennern. 'woonn'rne v o'FFIc'E or I conoaano raaf. serial ne. reame. s

wardly projecting .flange 9A on its lower end upon which rests the rimof a cap 10 which enclosespthe s1gnal-l1ghtc1rcu1t closing means andother .mechanism to be presently described.v 'lhe cap l() is secured to`the cap 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, by screws ll, -which pass downthrough holes in the dish '8, and through the ring portions of thelevers 6 and finto threaded holes in the said cap 5.

'llhe ring portions of the levers 6 and 'l' are each formed with singlediametric bar havp ing a hub" for the reception of the tubes 6A `and 7Arespectively, and this construction provides open spaces in the ringsthrough lwhich the screws ll pass, as shown by the dotted lines inFiguresv 2 and 7 The screws l1, hold the disir 8 and the cap l0stationary, and the disk 8 forms a base or support for `mechanism whichwill lnow be described. *lll he wall or" the ring 9 is formed with averticalslot or recess l2 in which is secured one end of a spring arm13, the opposite end oi' which terminates in a ring-like member ldhaving a straight side which is secured by a screw 14A to oneend oi? ayoke shaped support or saddlel, the base or horizontal portion ci whichis secured to the disk 8 by screws it. A magnet l? of thespool type issecured tothe saddle i5 by the screw 14A, and this magnet extends towithin a short distance of the opposite end ofthe saddle. @ne term'ralof the magnet is connected by a wire ive pole of the battery, and

is connected by a wire with a switch C. ich cohnects the wire with aground Contact t 'V "o uerpos'ed between th net and the adjacent en ithis dislr is Jformed wit "l which passes through d ci the saddle and isheld engagement with of the 9 by tra' ...J Se l5 r2 in the recesses 27,

lie ring 9` termed which are located r i, 'ou opposte sides'of theplungei e, i :t ort d' ince from the same. YVheu the ring 9 is turnedtoward the right until the n-:itch 2l registers with the plunger, thesaid plunger is forced into the notch 21 by the spring'20 and locked inthat position; and when the ring is turned in the opposite directi inthe plungerenters the notch 22 and locks the ring in that position.

`Within the notch 12 of the ring 9 an if, above the end of the springarm 13 is secured one tra" et t lpring arm 23, the opp ye end nl nnatesin a hub in Wl1i.v 'is re- .secured a contact elemen` .tlhfgrei a. pieceof carbon, which projects -lightly beyond each side of the said hub.

or the dish S and on opposite sides of. the i are secured verticalsupports 25 and '.respectively, which may be ot any suitablenon-conducting material.

.The upper portion of each of these supports is formed with a circula-rhorizontal recess 27, and in these recesses are slidably mounted carboncontacts 25A and 26A respectively, and coil springs 28 are interposedbetween the inner ends of the contacts and the end Walls of the recesses27, and these end walls are provided with small openings 29 throughwhich pass the current Wires A and B respectively, the ends of which aresecured to the respective contacts.

The wires are secured to the supports by binding screws 30, and thushold the contacts against the tension of the springs 28. When the ring 9is turned in either direction, the corresponding end, of the contact 24engages the contact 25A or 26A, as the case may be, and the springs 28permit a yielding movement of these contacts to allow a slight over pushof the lever after engagement of the contacts and before the plunger 19springs into the notch 21 or 22, whereby down through the tube 7A whichconnects with the gas or throttle lever 7, the tube 31 being secured atits upper end in a hole in the disk 8. From the tube 31 the Wire Apasses to and connects with one of the terminals of the front right handsignal lamp A1, of the automobile, the other terminal o f which isconnected by a Wire d-a with one of the terminals of the rear right handlamp A2, the other terminal of which is connected hv a wire -c with oneof the terminals of tle Y- B also 'the spring arm 13, ai

the contact 25A or 26A is held y 50 in positive engagement with thecorrespond limer e 'r througli the tube The AWire --c is connec..ed by arc owith one terminal of a battery t", or a current source, the otherterminal f. which is grounded to the frame of the' cnr. lt will thus beseen that the current passes Atrom the battery through Wires fl-- andcto either the right or left hand front and rear lamps; thence to thecontact 25A and 26A as the case may beto the contact 24, and thencethrough the .frame to the grounded terminal of the battery, thuscompleting awcircuit through either set of lumps and the battery.

Vhen the lever 9 is turned in either direction, the movement is againstthe tension of theretfire `when the lever 9 is released by tite Witliiwal of the plunger 19 from eith-r not tr the lever 9 is thrcwn by mesprirg arm 13 to a neutral position. or Y such a :eration that theplunger stands mia'lvay bctu'een the notches 21 and 22, as .ffioivn irll gares 2 and 5, and the lights arel hereby nut oft'. i In practice,when it desired to make a D5 turn in either directioi'-, for example. arightv hand turn, the lever 9 turner@ the right to bring the Contact211. into engrg ent with, the contact 25A, the plunger 'l forced intothe notch 21, and `lever is lccloai4 100 The current then p es from thinegativi` pole of the battery tlY V)ugh wires ---f1-l- :uit -cto thelamp A", thence thrf'iugli wire aM to lamp A1 ani thence throw/1 Wire Ato contact 25A and thence tin* 'gli eon- 105 tact 24 and arm 231 tf; therin;v .1 and thence through the france t the positivi; c ot the battery,thus closing.; the circuit tmri' battery and turning on the lights. l"ing the switch l intoengagement "m H0 ground contact H, a circuit isclosed tliro the magnet whereby the plunger is retries-'ed to releasethe ring A.

'In Fig. 5 is shown a. slight Hamlin-ritmi i in the arrangement of thering or l-'ner 9. le 115 er ref poets,

rangement is the sari :ci that shown i: 25 ure 2. i

In Fig. 5, the ring 9 is pr'widr removable se? lent (2. hf th iithcf 21and for .11. :'fcg'li s is made of steel to witnstana' the wearing 130areal-ias action of the plunger 19. The segment is.

secured to the ring lby screws 63. rthis arrangement permits the ring tobe made oli a softer and lighter metal, such as aluminum.,

The cap 10 may be made of asuitable composition, such as bakelite, andin this case, one of the terminals of the' push button 60 would loe4grounded to a metal element such as the disk 8, instead of to the cap,as shown in Fig. l. The usual horn button 64 is secured in the t0n willextend down through the tube 3l.

It will be obvious, that many changes might he made in the'constructionand arrangement of the mechanism, without departing -from the spirit ofthe invention.

Having described my invention, what. ll

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. In signaling mechanismof the charac-` ter described, a disk,oppo'sitely disposed contacts on said disk, a cap in fixed relationA tosaid disk', a rotatable element fitted in said cap and means thereon forengaging either contact, a magnet, a spring operated latch in relationto said magnet for locking said rotatable element in engagement witheither contact, said magnet acting when energized to retract the springoperated .latch and release the rotatable element, and a spring torestore therotatable element to a neutral position.

2. In signaling. mechanism :tor autoincu, biles, a disk, oppositelydisposed contacts, on

V tatable element on said disk, and a conductor said disk, a non-pivotedrotatablel element and a conductor thereon for engaging either contact,`a magnet, a spring operated latch in relation to said magnet, forengaging and locking said rotatable element to hold said conductor inengagement with either contact,

said magnet acting lWhen, energized to retractY the spring operatedlatch, and release the rotatable element, vand a spring to restore therotatable element to a neutral position between said contacts. l i I3.1m signaling mechanism oit the character described, a disk, oppositelydisposed yielding contacts, onsaid disk, a circular rothereon fprengaging either contact a circular guide surrounding said rotatableelement and in fixed relation to said disk, a magnet on said disk, aspring operated latch in relation to said magnet for engaging andlocking said rotatable element to hold'said conductor in engagement witheither contact, said magnet acting when energized to retract said springoperated latch` and release the rotatable element and a s ri 0' :torrestorinfrthe rotatable element to a neutral position.

ln signaling mechanism ot the character described, a disk,oppositelydisposed yielding contacts on said disk, a cap in finedrelation to said disk, a notched rot able spring controlled on said diskiitted said cap having a doubleended circuit closer normally disposedbetween said contacts, and adapted to engage either one of them, amagnet on said disk, a spring operated latch in relation to said magnetfor engaging a notch in said rotatable member to hold said conductor in.

engagement with either contact, said magnet acting whenenergized toretract said spring voperated latch thereby to release the rotatablemember and permit the same to turn toa neutral position. v

5. in signaling mechanism of the character described, a disk, oppositelydisposed yielding lined relation to the disk,'a magnet on said disk, asprintr operated llatch in relation to said magnet, which is adapted toengage one of said notches when the ring is turned, to

hold said conductor in engagement with one,

ot the contacts, said latch being retracted when the magnet `isenergizedthereby to i'elease the ring, and spring'lfor turning the ringto a neutral position. l

6. ln signaling mechanism of the character described, a disk, oppositelydisposed nonconducting supports on said disk, yielding terminal contactsmounted in said supports, a cap in fixed relation to the disk, a ringrotatably mounted in said cap and resting on said disk having a pair oitspaced notches in its inner edge and a conductor normally' positionedmidway between said contacts, a magnet on said disk, a spring operatedplunger in relation to said magnet which normally hears against the ringmidway between said notches, and is adapted to spring into one ot' saidnotches when the ring is turned, thereby to hold the said conductor inengagement with one of said contacts, said latch being retracted whenthe magnet is energized, there- 'oy to release the ring, and a springfor turnino the ring to a neutral position. Y

ln signaling mechanism of the character described, a disk, abracketsecured upon said disk, a magnet secured to said bracket', yieldingoppositely disposed terminal contacts on said disk, a ring rotatablymounted on said relation to 'said magnet, and adapted to en i e othersaid notches when laf v r turned thereby to hold the salut ,ih-rotor inengagement with one of U riff fiets, said latch being retracted when.fignet is energized, thereby to release Eng, which is then turned to aneutral posi` 11i on by its spring arm.

8. In signaling mechanism of the character ijescribed, a disk,oppositely disposed contr; i on said diskhaving anv inwardly extendingarm, a anged ring rotatably mounted on said disk and a conductor thereinfor engaging either contact, a magnet on said disk, a spring operatedlatch in relation thereto for locking said ring to hold said conductorin eng 2 ment with one of said contacts, said mag actin when energizedto retract sai'fi lat there y releasing said ring, a spring ci' nectedat one end to said arm and .in .fixed rc lation to the disk at its otherend` to resterA said ring to a neutral position, and means for holdingsaid ring in rotatable relatiefn f. Said disk, comprising a capextending f said ring and resting on the lar'e the and screws which passthrough sain mi; said disk.

.(1, In signaling mechanism of the character il ribed, alisk;oppositel'y 'lf iosa/@il f; ir; tacts on said disk; a ring rota ien the disk having a pair of no res onv its inner face and a conductorfor engaging either contact; a bracket on the disk', a magnet securedthereto; a spring-operated latch slidably mounted in the bracketinrelatgin to said magnet, for engaging either noti-h to lock said ringin engagement with either' Contact, said magnet acting when energized toretract the latch and release the ring, and a spring secured at one endto said ring and at its other end to said bracket, said spring acting toturn the ring so that the said conductor Will stand in a neutralposition. between the two contacts.

In te;

mony whereof, Iaftix my signature. HUBERT E. WOGDRING.

